So where is the problem? Presumably thousands of illegals affected by the fires in California have refused to go to the taxpayer funded evacuation centers because they fear they may be deported.

Flames were only one worry for some illegal immigrants in the fire zone. Equally scary were the crowded roads and evacuation centers, heavy with law enforcement officers, including U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Some wondered if they would be deported if they went to shelters.

“We decided that we wouldn’t go because they ask for your name and everything,” said day laborer Jose Salgado, waiting for work off the 5 Freeway near Rancho Santa Fe

Regardless of your position on the illegal immigration problem we face in this country, it would be impossible to speak out against have law enforcement officers at the evacuation centers right? Wrong!

Immigrant rights groups and the American Civil Liberties Union, however, claim that authorities have created a climate of intimidation through neglect and such policies as asking for identification at some shelters.

During the wildfires, more than 100 federal agents were redeployed from their border posts to lend assistance. They helped evacuate homes, staff checkpoints, guard against looters and assist at evacuation shelters.

At Qualcomm Stadium, a Border Patrol communications vehicle provided key logistics support. Agents in their distinct green uniforms mingled with law enforcement from all over the county.

The mere presence of Border Patrol was enough to scare off some immigrants. “Having people at evacuation sites in Border Patrol uniforms is asinine,” said Enrique Morones, president of the Border Angels, an immigrant rights group.

The ACLU and immigrant rights groups claim illegal immigrants were subjected to racial profiling at Qualcomm and were abused by some volunteers who questioned their legal status.

For starters it is important to point out that there are no records of mass deportations occurring at these evacuation centers. The ACLU’s claim of ‘racial’ profiling lacks any substantiation and should be taken with a grain of salt. In fact the news article only mentions one case where an illegal has been deported:

Rumors of deportations grew Wednesday when San Diego police arrested a Mexican family at Qualcomm Stadium for allegedly stealing food they intended to resell. After being handed over to border agents, the family, which had been living in the U.S. for several years, was deported. Footage of their arrest was replayed numerous times on local television stations.

Should our hearts bleed for these leeches who not only have come to this country illegally, but they then in turn take advantage of American generosity by stealing food paid for by American taxpayers, and offered to the evacuees (including illegal’s) for free. I am happy to hear this family has been deported, and hope that it is a lesson to all others in this country illegally. Continued lack of respect for our nations laws will not, and should not be tolerated.

The ACLU feels that because these are poor people who have only come here for the American dream, they should not have been deported. After all, they weren’t stealing the food for their own consumption, they intended to sell it, somewhat like a business I suppose.

Stealing food meant for evacuees, simply another job Americans won’t do!

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ACLU, Immigration